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Sleeping while traveling is always something that is entirely hit or miss for me. I’m either out like the dead or thrashing around all night – there really is no in-between for me. The room can be perfect, the bed can be perfect, and I could be exhausted, but sometimes it’s a struggle.
Getting some sleep when you’re away from home doesn’t have to be difficult, so here are some simple steps that you can take to get some rest so that you can enjoy your trip.
Stay Up ’til Bedtime
You will want to pretend that you’re already at your destination and that you’re on local time when you leave. This could mean bedtime is a little earlier or later than usual. Think about hitting the hay around 10 pm or so at your destination’s local time. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine suggest that it takes one day for each time zone for your body to properly adjust. So planning ahead by adjusting your bedtime (earlier or later) can make the transition (and potential jet lag) a little easier.
You may walk around a little dazed and confused, but your transition to the new time zone will be much easier. If you’re only away for a couple of days, it’s essential to try and maintain your usual sleep and wake times. This will allow your body to stay in a similar routine on your trip and once you return home.
Pick the Right Place to Sleep
Whether it’s a hotel, Airbnb, or even a campsite, the location makes a huge difference! If your room, campsite, or RV is close to others, you may run into people who want to stay up late, make a lot of noise or have a lot of traffic.
Never book a hotel near a crowded market, a public area, or a tourist area. This will cause a lot of noise and disturb your peace. When you book a hotel, ask that you don’t stay on the lower floor. Lower floors are usually noisier than the upper ones. Also, staying near an elevator can create a noisier sleeping environment.
Get Comfortable
For example, if you’re traveling in an RV, you’ve got some added opportunities to make the space more comfortable for you. Try the ghostbed rv mattress to make sure you’ve got the right size for your sleeping area. Invest in blackout curtains to keep the sun out and invest in good bed linens and pillows. If you’ve got the chance to set up your space as you would at home, do it!
If you don’t have any say in the layout of the space, consider a few things that are small enough to fit in your duffel bag. Sleep masks, noise-canceling headphones, earplugs, white noise from your phone – all that good stuff! You know what makes you comfortable at home and if it fits into your bags, bring it along.
Food & Drink in Moderation
It’s important to remember that drinking and eating too much can lead to a poor night’s sleep. When stomachs are full, it’s harder to fall and stay asleep. Try to eat light meals throughout the day and limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol to better your chances of getting the rest you need.
Prepare Before You Travel
Preparing to travel in and of itself can be stressful. Prepare for your trip in a stress-free manner. Pre-trip anxiety can make you lose sleep and ruin the trip before hitting the road. This may mean planning extra time to rest in between destinations. Plan to stay hydrated and eat healthily – fatigue can add to the stress levels of your travels. Dress comfortably and try to find a good posture for sitting and relaxing, rather than hunching over and creating additional tension in your body.
We’ve all been there. Needing to sleep someplace that isn’t home, and we just can’t do it. Next time this happens to you, give yourself a little grace and try some of these ideas to get a few hours of rest.
TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS: What are some of your favorite tips for getting good rest while you are traveling?
